This week, Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, in partnership with Source 360 Group Inc., launched a new service to connect job seekers and employers during this time of social distancing.
Employers and job seekers meet online in a virtual environment and use various tools such as chat rooms, webcasts, training / workshop videos, webinars and employer online hiring sites. Job seekers can connect at any location with internet, eliminating transportation and distance issues.
James Harvey of the Alaska Department of Labor says that a Virtual Job Fair can break barriers for job-seekers who are worried about pursuing employment the old-fashioned way: “It’s gonna allow those individuals that may have had concerns about their ability to social distance in a setting such as a job fair that we normally conduct. Now, they can do this virtually over their phones, via their home internet connection, etc. So, I think it’s going to allow that segment of the population that is actually looking for work to be able to engage in those employers that are actively seeking employees right now.”
He also noted that the program stems from what other states have done successfully, with the aim to get Alaskans into Alaskan jobs: “Where this more or less came out is looking at what are some other states doing, what are other sectors of the industry doing as far as workforce development? This connection virtually is something that we’e been moving towards for a long time. Our goal here is to get Alaskans into Alaskan jobs, and that’s exactly what this product is about.”
Alaskans will be able to engage directly with employers via their own computer or smartphone. Employers can utilize the chat program familiar to them to engage with prospective employees in real-time meetings.
Job seekers can access Virtual Job Fairs here. Upcoming events will be listed as scheduled by employers seeking workers. Employers can request a Virtual Job Fair by visiting here or by contacting the Virtual Job Fair Coordinator via e-mail.
